Cooperative Education
This program offers students opportunities to participate in career related experiences designed to reinforce skills learned in different areas and to apply these skills in actual job situations.
Distance Learning
Distance learning at Windward CC occurs primarily online via the internet either asynchronously (entirely online with no regularly scheduled class meetings), synchronously (with regular scheduled class meetings delivered over video conferencing software) or a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. To take an online class, a student must have access to a computer, the internet, and a UH email account. Online courses require the use of Laulima, University of Hawai‘i’s online course system (http://laulima.hawaii.edu). The instructor will provide students with a list of software that will be needed, which should be purchased and/or downloaded before the first day of class. Students should actively participate in the online discussion forums, chats, and other forms of online interaction in their course to maximize learning. Communication, time management, and other skills crucial to success in the online learning environment are discussed at Windward CC’s online information page https://windward.hawaii.edu/evening-online-education/. Here, one can also find useful web pages and other relevant information.
Independent Studies
This program offers students the opportunity to participate in the creation of academic learning experiences designed to meet individual needs, interests, aptitudes and desired outcomes. It is intended to serve the student, who after completing the requirements of an introductory course, may wish to continue an in-depth study of a particular topic or issue previously covered, or who may wish to reinforce understanding of concepts or relationships covered.
A student at the College, under faculty supervision, may design an independent study project (numbered as 99, 199, and 299). An independent study project nay take the form of directed reading, research, or fieldwork experience. Students are encouraged to develop original projects and the project must be appropriate to the student’s program of study, related to the existing college curriculum, and in the area of the supervising instructor’s and/or co-advisor’s expertise.
Independent study projects are undertaken with at least one student selected faculty advisor. The advisor must be a member of the College faculty and participation by this faculty member is voluntary. The advisor serves as a facilitator of learning, guiding the student in establishing and achieving the goals of the independent project. An advisor may recommend particular preparation before a student undertakes a project.
No more than 12 credits in any combination of independent study or cooperative education can be applied to meet the associate degree requirements. Procedural details may be obtained through an instructor or the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The deadline for registration in an independent study course is October 10 for the Fall semester and March 1 for the Spring semester. If these dates should fall on a weekend, the deadline is the following Monday. Students who request an Independent Study must meet the admission deadline. If students who request Independent Study are not enrolled in other classes, a late fee will apply.
Military Science Courses
Military science and air science courses are offered through the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Windward students making satisfactory academic progress may enroll in these courses as concurrent students. For further information, contact the military departments at the UH Mānoa campus.
ʻIke Kaiāulu: Community Engagement Program (Service-Learning)
The ‘Ike Kaiāulu Community Engagement Program has built pilina (relationships) with numerous partners in our community. In turn, the program is able to connect students with opportunities to work alongside these partners and earn partial course credit. The program is a learning option in designated courses at Windward Community College. Students work with instructors and the ‘Ike Kaiāulu Program office to select approved community sites. Participation in the program enhances a studentʻs academic journey by connecting these experiences to their academic curriculum, as well as by fostering civic responsibility, career exploration, and community connections.
Sustainability (S-designated) courses
Sustainability (S) designated courses are designed to teach students about sustainability across a variety of academic disciplines. They are part of a growing systemwide effort to teach students ecological literacy and make the University of Hawai‘i system a leader in sustainability. These courses are not a graduation requirement, but the designation can steer students towards courses that address environmental issues. Sustainability designated courses encourage students to learn about the social, cultural, economic, political, scientific, and artistic approaches to sustainability, recognizing the valuable contributions from each academic discipline to thinking about the health of the planet and local communities. Sustainability designated courses may be either S-focused or S-related.
S-focused – these courses focus primarily on sustainability from within a given academic discipline and/or the course will examine an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens.
S-related – these courses include some assignments and course content that addresses issues of sustainability.
S-Designation Hallmarks
- A significant component of readings, assignments, and other course materials address environmental topics.
- The course teaches students to think critically and examine environmental challenges and debates on an international, national, and local level.
Students learn the underlying causes of environmental challenges and explore ways to address these challenges.